It’s the end of an era on Long Island, as New York Islanders ownership announced sweeping changes. The Islanders’ president of hockey operations and general manager, Lou Lamoriello, was fired. Although Lamoriello has done a lot for the franchise, this is music to every Islanders fan’s ears. Here is how this move impacts the Islanders and why it’s bittersweet for them.
Lou Lamoriello’s Impact on the Islanders
As mentioned before, many fans were tired of Lamoriello running the show. New York finished the season 6th in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division with a record of 35-35-12, good for 85 points. This wasn’t good enough for the Islanders to qualify for the playoffs, marking the first time the failed to do so since the 2021-22 season. This was far from where the Islanders were projected to be. After making the playoffs in 2023-24, plus a roster built around stars like Mathew Barzal and Ilya Sorokin , the expectations were high.
However, just because the ending isn’t what fans would have liked, it shouldn’t detract from what Lamoriello accomplished. When the Islanders hired Lamoriello back in 2018, things were rough on Long Island. They’d miss the playoffs back-to-back years and had just lost franchise icon John Tavares to free agency. The franchise felt like a rudderless ship without a direction.
But, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, Lamoriello was able to put the Islanders back on track. In his six seasons at the helm, he made the Stanley Cup playoffs four times, including two trips to the Eastern Conference finals. They were also a win away from a Stanley Cup Final appearance during the 2020-21 season. While Lou Lamoriello being fired leaves a sour taste, it doesn’t take away from what he accomplished.
Where the Islanders Go From Here
Lou Lamoriello’s firing will bring massive change to the Islanders’ front office. At this moment, the future of head coach Patrick Roy is up in the air, as well as assistant general managers Chris Lamoriello and Steve Pellegrini. All that’s known is that operating partner John Collins will head the search for the next GM. It appears the fate of the three mentioned will be left up to whoever is hired. Their first decision was in the hope of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Long Island.
Main Photo Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The post New York Islanders Shake Things Up Major Front-Office Firing appeared first on Last Word On Hockey .